Chair frame



Jan. 28, 1958 Filed April 2, 1956 V. MENEGHELLI CHAIR FRAME 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jane 28, 1958 v. MENEGHELLI 4 CHAIR FRAME Filed April 2; 1556 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 28, 1958 v v. MENEGHELLI CHAIR FRAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April' 2, 1956 nited States CHAIR FRAME Vittorio Meneghelli, Germiston, Transvaal, Union of South Africa The present invention relates to a chair frame and particularly to a chair frame made of bars, the term bars being used to designate solid or hollow bars or tubes of round, square or other cross section. While chair frames in accordance with the invention are preferably fabricated of metal bars for example steel, aluminum or magnesium, other suitable materials such as plastic bars, rods or tubes may be used.

The invention is particularly applicable to a metal chair frame on which flexible material is woven to provide seat and back surfaces as disclosed for example in my copending application, Serial No. 574,477, filed on March 28,

It is an object of the invention to provide a chair frame having controlled resiliency so as to have an appreciable amount of spring and provide a cushioning efiect when a person sits on the chair while still being strong and durable. The frame in accordance with the invention is easy to manufacture and assemble and hence economical to produce. It has the further advantage of being distinctive and modern in appearance without impairing its strength and durability. The legs of the chair frame in accordance with the invention are strong and graceful and are free of cross bars or other transverse members that would hinder cleaning under the chair or be liable to be kicked or scuffed.

The objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description and claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate by way of example a chair frame in accordance with the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a chair frame in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear side perspective view.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing a connection between two portions of the chair frame.

Fig. 4 is a section taken approximately on the line 4--4 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view looking toward the side of the chair frame and forwardly and showing a connection between a seat frame portion and a supporting structure.

Fig. 6 is a section taken approximately on the line 66 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view looking rearwardly and toward the side of the chair and showing a connection between a back portion of the chair and the supporting structure, a portion of the frame being broken away, and

Fig. 8 is a section taken approximately on the line 8-8 in Fig. 7.

The chair frame shown by way of example in the drawings comprises a seat frame 1 and a supporting structure 2. The seat frame 1 has an approximately horizontal portion 3 and an inclined upwardly projecting back portion 4. Both the seat and back portions of the seat frame are formed of a length of bar stock bent to form substantially straight and parallel seat side bars 5 substantially straight and parallel back side bars 6 extending upwardly and rearwardly at an angle from the seat side bars, a front cross bar 7 extending between the seat side bars 5 at the front of the frame and an upper back cross bar 8 extending between the back side bars 6 at the top of the back. The front cross bar 7 is offset downwardly so as to be below the level of the seat side bars 5. Similarly, the upper back cross bar 8 is offset rearwardly so as to be behind a plane defined by the two back side bars 6. A lower back cross bar 9 extends between the two back side bars intermediate the seat portion and the top of the back and is formed of a length of bar stock welded at its ends to the back side bars as indicated at 9a. The lower back cross bar 9 is curved rearwardly so as to be behind the plane of the back side bar. The seat frame is adapted to receive fabric or woven material forming seat and back surfaces. A preferred construction of such surfaces is disclosed and claimed in my above mentioned copending application.

The seat frame 1 is supported at a suitable distance above the floor level by the supporting structure 2 which comprises a plurality of bars joined at a central junction 10 which is located approximately centrally of the seat portion both laterally and in a fore-and-aft direction and approximately midway between the seat portion and floor level. The supporting structure is symmetrical with reference to a central vertical fore-and-aft plane and comprises two halves which are symmetrical to one another and are joined at the central junction 14) to form a unitary structure. Each half of the supporting structure comprises a first bar portion 11 which extends upwardly, forwardly and laterally outwardly from the central junction 1!) to a junction 12 with the side bar 5 of the seat frame 1 at the forward part of the seat portion. The bar then curves upwardly and rearwardly to a junction 13 with the cross bar 7 of the back portion 4 of the seat frame to form an arm portion 14. The junction of the arm portion 14 with the back of the seat frame is approximately at the junction weld 9a between the lower back cross bar 9 and the back side bars 6. The bar forming the arm 14 extends rearwardly beyond the back of the seat frame and curves downwardly as indicated at 15 and then forwardly, downwardly and laterally inwardly as indicated at 16 (Fig. 1) so as to approach the central vertical foreand-aft plane of the chair. The bar then continues downwardly, forwardly and laterally outwardly as indicated at 17 to a foot portion 18 (Fig. 2) where it forms a sharp reverse bend and then extends upwardly, rearwardly and laterally inwardly to provide an upwardly inclined portion 19 which is joined at 20, for example by welding, to the bar por-' tion 11 at a point intermediate the central junction it? and the junction 12 with the front side portion of the seat frame. A bar portion 21 extends downwardly, rearwardly and laterally outwardly from the central junction 10 to a sharp reverse bend forming a rear foot 22 and then extends upwardly, forwardly and laterally inwardly to provide an upwardly inclined portion 23 which is joined at 24 for example by Welding to the bar portion 17 that is disposed between the rear junction 13 with the seat frame and the forward foot 18. The junction 24 is located rearwardly, upwardly and laterally outwardly from the central junction It). A foot disc 25 is preferably secured for example by Welding to the reverse bends forming the front feet 18 and rear feet 22. In the preferred construction shown in the drawings, each half of the supporting structure 2 is formed of a single length of bar stock which extends continuously from the junction 2% to the junction 24. However, the arm portion 14 may, if desired, be omitted in which event each half of the supporting structure may be formed of two lengths of bar stock, one exthat they can be'disconnected'to facilitate shipping-and storage. In the preferred embodiment shown in the "drawings, the two halves of the supporting structure are connected by a, hinge joint 30 shown in greater detail in Figs. 3'and 4. Two hinge portions 31'and'32 are welded respectively on the two frame halves and have aligned holes through which a hinge pin shown in the form of a bolt 33 extends. The axis of the hinge pin 33 lies in a vertical fore-and-aft plane bisecting the seat frame 1 and is inclined to the horizontal being approximately in the plane defined by the -bar portions 11 and,21.

The junctions l2 and 13 between the seat frame 1 and thesupporting structure 2 are also preferablydisconnectable. As illustrated in Figs. 5 and '6, the junction 12"comprises a lug portion 35 welded on the upper side of .the bar portion 11 of the supporting structure and a downwardly projecting lugportion 36 welded on the underside of the. seat side bar 5 near the front of the seat portion. The log portions 35, and 36 have aligned holes through which a bolt 37 extends to connect the seat frame with the supporting structure.

As illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, the junction 13 between the supporting structure and the back portion of the seat frame comprises a downwardly projecting and laterally offset lug portion 40 welded on the underside of the rear portion of the bar 14 of the supporting structure and a downwardly projecting lug 41 weldedon the underside of the lower cross bar 9 near its junction with the back side bar 6. The two lugs 40 and 41 have aligned holes through which a bolt 42 extends to connect the seat frame lto the supporting structure 2.

It will thus be seenthat the two halves of the supporting structure are assembled by means of a single bolt 33 and the seat frame '1 is then mounted on the supporting structure by means of only four bolts 37 and 42at junctions l2 and 13. Conversely, the chair frame is readily disassembled by removing the five bolts. Moreover, the hinge joints provided between the two halves of the supporting structure and'between the supporting structure andthe seat frame contribute to the flexibility of the structureand at the same time help avoid localized stresses and thereby add to the overall strength of the frame.

Whilethe chair frame illustrated byway of example in the drawings has been shown as being made of tubing, it will beunderstood that solid. bar stock can be used in like manner or that the frame may be made partly of tubing and partly of solid bars. For example,'in a preferred construction, the seat frame is made of tubing while solid bars are used for the supporting structures. It will be understood that the invention is in no way limited to precise sizes or proportions and that a variety of chair frames in accordance with the invention may be made within the scope of the annexed claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A chair frame comprising a seat frame havingan approximately horizontal seat position andvan upwardly extending. back portion, and, a structure supporting, said seat frame above floor level, said supporting structure comprising a plurality of bars joined at a central junction disposed approximately centrally of said seat portion and between said seat portion andfioorlevel to formaunitary bar structure comprising two symmetrical halves each comprising a first bar portion extending upwardly, forwardly and laterally outwardly from said central junction to a point of junction with a forward side portion of the seat portion of said seat. frame, then curving upwardly and rearwardly to a point'of'junction with a side portion of the back portion of saidseat frameat a level above said seat portion, thencurving downwardly, laterally inwardly and forwardly and" further extending downwardly, forwardly and laterally outwardly to a front foot portion, then upwardly rearwardly; and. laterally. inwardly. to a point of junction with said first bar portion intermediate said central junctiona'nd'the point ofjunction with said seat portion, a second bar portion extending downwardly,

rearwardly and laterally outwardly to form a rear foot portion then upwardly, forward-1y and laterally inwardly toa point of "junction with said first bar portion at a point intermediate saidfront" foot and said point of junction with 'said back portion and disposed rearwardly, upwardly andlaterallyi outwardly-from said, central junction, and means joining saidbar portions with oneanother and with said seat frame atsaid'points of junction, saidtwo halves ofsaid bar "structure being joined'with'one another at said central junction.

2. A'- ch'airframe comprising a seat frame .and a struc ture* supporting said seat-frame above floor level, said supportingstructurecomprisihg ajplurality of bars joined at'a central junction disposed approximately centrally of said seat portion and between said seat .portion and floor level to form a unitary bar 'str'ucturecomprising two symmetricalhalves eaclrcomprisinga first bar portion joined to the side' of said' seat frame at the'front andextending downwardly, rearwardly'and laterally inwardly to said centraljunction, a secondbar portion'joined to the side of said'seat "frame at "the'rear and extendingdownwardly, laterally, inwardly"and"forwardly and then downwardly,

laterally outwardly-and forwardlyto form a. front foot portion andthen upwardly, laterallyinwardly andrearwardly'tojoinsaid first'bar portions intermediate said central junction-and the junction-of said first bar portion with said seat frame, a thirdbar portion extending from said central junction downwardly, rearwardly and'latera-lly outwardly'toform' a' rearvfoot'portion and then upwardly forwardly and-laterally inwardly to join said second portionat; apoirittrea'rwardly of said central junction, and means joining said'bar portions with one another and with said seat frame at said junctionpoints, said two halves of said bar structure being joined with one another at said central junction.

3. A chair frame according to claim 2, in which said first and third bar portions are integral continuations of one another.

References-Cited-in 'the file of this patent UNITED STATES. PATENTS- D. 172,068: VaH'LDCIIbEKEH' Apr. 27, 1954 365,999w Hogberg July 5, 1887 2,353,892 Higgens July 18, 1944' 2,574,367 Zeisel. Nov. 6, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 279,877 Switzerland Dec. 3i, 1951 

